Featured Publications
Imaging synaptic density in the living human brain
Finnema SJ, Nabulsi NB, Eid T, Detyniecki K, Lin SF, Chen MK, Dhaher R, Matuskey D, Baum E, Holden D, Spencer DD, Mercier J, Hannestad J, Huang Y, Carson RE. Imaging synaptic density in the living human brain. Science Translational Medicine 2016, 8: 348ra96. PMID: 27440727, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf6667.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic densityPositron emission tomographyPET imagingSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ATemporal lobe epilepsyNumerous brain disordersCentral nervous systemNumber of synapsesJ PET imagingHuman brainHuman PET studiesPredominant neuronsSurgical resectionSynaptic lossLobe epilepsyPsychiatric disordersNervous systemBrain disordersPresynaptic boutonsAlzheimer's diseaseBrain tissueEmission tomographyNeuron contactsTherapeutic monitoringPET studiesFirst-in-Human Evaluation of 18F-SynVesT-1, a Radioligand for PET Imaging of Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A
Naganawa M, Li S, Nabulsi N, Henry S, Zheng MQ, Pracitto R, Cai Z, Gao H, Kapinos M, Labaree D, Matuskey D, Huang Y, Carson RE. First-in-Human Evaluation of 18F-SynVesT-1, a Radioligand for PET Imaging of Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2020, 62: 561-567. PMID: 32859701, PMCID: PMC8049363, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.249144.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsC-UCBSynaptic densityRegional time-activity curvesTime-activity curvesDistribution volumeMetabolite-corrected arterial input functionPET imagingMultilinear analysis 1Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAntiepileptic drug levetiracetamTotal distribution volumeNondisplaceable distribution volumeCentrum semiovaleBlocking doseHealthy volunteersHuman studiesDrug levetiracetamLassen plotNeuropsychiatric disordersPET radioligandArterial input functionNonhuman primatesLevetiracetamReference regionRadioligandReduced synaptic vesicle protein 2A binding in temporal lobe epilepsy: A [11C]UCB‐J positron emission tomography study
Finnema SJ, Toyonaga T, Detyniecki K, Chen M, Dias M, Wang Q, Lin S, Naganawa M, Gallezot J, Lu Y, Nabulsi NB, Huang Y, Spencer DD, Carson RE. Reduced synaptic vesicle protein 2A binding in temporal lobe epilepsy: A [11C]UCB‐J positron emission tomography study. Epilepsia 2020, 61: 2183-2193. PMID: 32944949, DOI: 10.1111/epi.16653.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedial temporal lobe sclerosisTemporal lobe epilepsyTLE subjectsPositron emission tomographyLobe epilepsyJ BPSynaptic vesicle protein 2APartial volume correctionTemporal lobe sclerosisPositron emission tomography studyEmission tomography studiesSeizure onset zonePromising biomarker approachJ bindingPresurgical selectionSclerotic hippocampusHippocampal asymmetryTLE patientsRegional binding patternsControl subjectsCentrum semiovaleContralateral regionsEpilepsy patientsOutcome measuresOnset zoneLower synaptic density is associated with depression severity and network alterations
Holmes SE, Scheinost D, Finnema SJ, Naganawa M, Davis MT, DellaGioia N, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Angarita GA, Pietrzak RH, Duman RS, Sanacora G, Krystal JH, Carson RE, Esterlis I. Lower synaptic density is associated with depression severity and network alterations. Nature Communications 2019, 10: 1529. PMID: 30948709, PMCID: PMC6449365, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09562-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMajor depressive disorderPost-traumatic stress disorderLower synaptic densitySynaptic densityPositron emission tomographyFunctional connectivityNetwork alterationsSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ASymptoms of depressionSynaptic lossDepressive disorderHealthy controlsNerve terminalsDepressive symptomsDepression severityUnmedicated individualsSynaptic connectionsEmission tomographyStress disorderVivo evidenceSymptomsDepressionSeverityDisordersAlterations
2024
Microglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia
Bonomi R, Hillmer A, Woodcock E, Bhatt S, Rusowicz A, Angarita G, Carson R, Davis M, Esterlis I, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Krystal J, Pietrzak R, Cosgrove K. Microglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2406005121. PMID: 39172786, PMCID: PMC11363315, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406005121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPTSD groupPrefrontal-limbic circuitsNeuroimmune responseAssociated with anhedoniaPosttraumatic stress disorderPositron emission tomography brain imagingTranslocator protein availabilityBrain immune functionAnhedonic symptomsStress disorderPeripheral immune dysfunctionPTSDGroup differencesSeverity of symptomsPsychiatric diseasesTranslocator proteinBrain imagingAdministration of lipopolysaccharideSymptomsMicroglial markersLPS-induced increaseCompared to controlsImmune functionSickness symptomsAnhedonia
2023
Relationships of in vivo brain norepinephrine transporter and age, BMI, and gender
Koohsari S, Sadabad F, Pittman B, Gallezot J, Carson R, van Dyck C, Li C, Potenza M, Matuskey D. Relationships of in vivo brain norepinephrine transporter and age, BMI, and gender. Synapse 2023, 77: e22279. PMID: 37382240, PMCID: PMC10416616, DOI: 10.1002/syn.22279.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexMultilinear reference tissue model 2Gender-related differencesBrain norepinephrine transportersNorepinephrine transporterAge-related declineStructural MR scansBrain regionsReference tissue model 2Mass indexRaphe nucleusLocus coeruleusOccipital cortexBMI relationshipHealthy adultsHigh-resolution research tomographAvailable radiotracersHealthy participantsMR scansAgeAnatomic templateReference regionNegative associationNet availabilityPotential age
2021
Imaging brain cortisol regulation in PTSD with a target for 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1
Bhatt S, Hillmer AT, Rusowicz A, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Angarita GA, Najafzadeh S, Kapinos M, Southwick SM, Krystal JH, Carson RE, Huang Y, Cosgrove KP. Imaging brain cortisol regulation in PTSD with a target for 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2021, 131: e150452. PMID: 34651587, PMCID: PMC8516462, DOI: 10.1172/jci150452.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPositron emission tomographyVolume of distributionDehydrogenase type 1Trauma-exposed controlsPTSD groupTranslocator proteinType 1Veterans Affairs (VA) National CenterOverall PTSD severityBrain glucocorticoidBrain immuneMethodsSixteen individualsPeripheral cortisolMicroglial markersImmune suppressionTranslational Science AwardsCortisol levelsNIH National CenterTC groupCortisol regulationEmission tomographyStress disorderLower PTSD symptomsPTSD symptomsIdentifying brain networks in synaptic density PET (11C-UCB-J) with independent component analysis
Fang XT, Toyonaga T, Hillmer AT, Matuskey D, Holmes SE, Radhakrishnan R, Mecca AP, van Dyck CH, D’Souza D, Esterlis I, Worhunsky PD, Carson RE. Identifying brain networks in synaptic density PET (11C-UCB-J) with independent component analysis. NeuroImage 2021, 237: 118167. PMID: 34000404, PMCID: PMC8452380, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118167.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic densityResting-state functional magnetic resonance imagingSynaptic vesicle protein 2ALevel-dependent signal fluctuationsBrain networksFunctional magnetic resonance imagingMagnetic resonance imagingAge-related changesHealthy controlsResonance imagingRs-fMRIEffects of sexProtein 2AMultiple comparisonsHuman brainAgePotential utilitySexFirst evidenceCovariance patternsPET Imaging Estimates of Regional Acetylcholine Concentration Variation in Living Human Brain
Smart K, Naganawa M, Baldassarri SR, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Najafzadeh S, Gao H, Navarro A, Barth V, Esterlis I, Cosgrove KP, Huang Y, Carson RE, Hillmer AT. PET Imaging Estimates of Regional Acetylcholine Concentration Variation in Living Human Brain. Cerebral Cortex 2021, 31: 2787-2798. PMID: 33442731, PMCID: PMC8355478, DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa387.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsACh concentrationHuman volunteersHigh ACh concentrationsMuscarinic antagonist scopolamineHealthy human volunteersHuman brainCholinergic receptorsNicotine challengeAntagonist scopolaminePreclinical studiesStriatal regionsPET scansEndogenous neurotransmittersNeuropsychiatric diseasesNonhuman primatesWhole-brain imagesDrug occupancyNicotinic ligandsClinical populationsBrainAcetylcholineDistinct functional rolesStriatumVolunteersFunctional role
2020
First-in-Human Assessment of 11C-LSN3172176, an M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor PET Radiotracer
Naganawa M, Nabulsi N, Henry S, Matuskey D, Lin SF, Slieker L, Schwarz AJ, Kant N, Jesudason C, Ruley K, Navarro A, Gao H, Ropchan J, Labaree D, Carson RE, Huang Y. First-in-Human Assessment of 11C-LSN3172176, an M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor PET Radiotracer. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2020, 62: 553-560. PMID: 32859711, PMCID: PMC8049371, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.246967.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSimplified reference tissue modelM1 receptorsHealthy subjectsMuscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype M1Distribution volumePET radiotracersAbsolute test-retest variabilityExcellent test-retest reproducibilityReference tissue model 2Total distribution volumeSuitable reference regionTest-retest reproducibilityTest-retest variabilityReference regionTest-retest protocolNondisplaceable distribution volumeReference tissue modelTest-retest studySubtypes M1Preclinical studiesRegional time-activity curvesAcetylcholine concentrationHuman studiesReceptor occupancyTime-activity curvesBinding of the synaptic vesicle radiotracer [11C]UCB-J is unchanged during functional brain activation using a visual stimulation task
Smart K, Liu H, Matuskey D, Chen MK, Torres K, Nabulsi N, Labaree D, Ropchan J, Hillmer AT, Huang Y, Carson RE. Binding of the synaptic vesicle radiotracer [11C]UCB-J is unchanged during functional brain activation using a visual stimulation task. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2020, 41: 1067-1079. PMID: 32757741, PMCID: PMC8054713, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x20946198.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVisual cortexVisual stimulationPositron emission tomography radioligandBrain activationBlood flow increasesVolume of distributionPrimary visual cortexCheckerboard visual stimulationFunctional brain activationFunctional magnetic resonanceReference tissue modelFMRI BOLD responsesSynaptic densityVisual stimulation taskOne-tissue compartment modelHealthy volunteersNeuronal firingTomography radioligandPET scansTissue influxVivo measuresRobust increaseBOLD responseTracer influxStimulation taskPTSD is associated with neuroimmune suppression: evidence from PET imaging and postmortem transcriptomic studies
Bhatt S, Hillmer AT, Girgenti MJ, Rusowicz A, Kapinos M, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Matuskey D, Angarita GA, Esterlis I, Davis MT, Southwick SM, Friedman MJ, Duman R, Carson R, Krystal J, Pietrzak R, Cosgrove K. PTSD is associated with neuroimmune suppression: evidence from PET imaging and postmortem transcriptomic studies. Nature Communications 2020, 11: 2360. PMID: 32398677, PMCID: PMC7217830, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15930-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcetamidesAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingAdultBrainCase-Control StudiesFemaleGene Expression ProfilingHealthy VolunteersHumansMaleMicrogliaMiddle AgedPositron-Emission TomographyPyridinesRadiopharmaceuticalsReceptors, GABAReceptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14Sex FactorsStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticYoung AdultConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPeripheral immune activationImmune activationHigher C-reactive protein levelsC-reactive protein levelsTSPO availabilityTranslocator proteinBrain microglial activationTomography brain imagingStress-related pathophysiologyPositron emission tomography (PET) brain imagingNeuroimmune activationMicroglial activationPTSD symptom severityImmunologic regulationPostmortem studiesPTSD subgroupHealthy individualsSymptom severityTrauma exposurePTSD groupStress disorderLower relative expressionBrain imagingPET imagingInverse changes in raphe and cortical 5‐HT1B receptor availability after acute tryptophan depletion in healthy human subjects
Baldassarri SR, Park E, Finnema SJ, Planeta B, Nabulsi N, Najafzadeh S, Ropchan J, Huang Y, Hannestad J, Maloney K, Bhagwagar Z, Carson RE. Inverse changes in raphe and cortical 5‐HT1B receptor availability after acute tryptophan depletion in healthy human subjects. Synapse 2020, 74: e22159. PMID: 32324935, PMCID: PMC7426238, DOI: 10.1002/syn.22159.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSeparating dopamine D2 and D3 receptor sources of [11C]-(+)-PHNO binding potential: Independent component analysis of competitive binding
Smart K, Gallezot JD, Nabulsi N, Labaree D, Zheng MQ, Huang Y, Carson RE, Hillmer AT, Worhunsky PD. Separating dopamine D2 and D3 receptor sources of [11C]-(+)-PHNO binding potential: Independent component analysis of competitive binding. NeuroImage 2020, 214: 116762. PMID: 32201327, PMCID: PMC7263955, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116762.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchKinetic Modeling and Test–Retest Reproducibility of 11C-EKAP and 11C-FEKAP, Novel Agonist Radiotracers for PET Imaging of the κ-Opioid Receptor in Humans
Naganawa M, Li S, Nabulsi N, Lin SF, Labaree D, Ropchan J, Gao H, Mei M, Henry S, Matuskey D, Carson RE, Huang Y. Kinetic Modeling and Test–Retest Reproducibility of 11C-EKAP and 11C-FEKAP, Novel Agonist Radiotracers for PET Imaging of the κ-Opioid Receptor in Humans. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2020, 61: 1636-1642. PMID: 32169917, PMCID: PMC9364890, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.119.227694.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBody Mass Index and Age Effects on Brain 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1: a Positron Emission Tomography Study
Bini J, Bhatt S, Hillmer AT, Gallezot JD, Nabulsi N, Pracitto R, Labaree D, Kapinos M, Ropchan J, Matuskey D, Sherwin RS, Jastreboff AM, Carson RE, Cosgrove K, Huang Y. Body Mass Index and Age Effects on Brain 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1: a Positron Emission Tomography Study. Molecular Imaging And Biology 2020, 22: 1124-1131. PMID: 32133575, PMCID: PMC7351613, DOI: 10.1007/s11307-020-01490-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexPositron emission tomographyDehydrogenase type 1Mass indexObese individualsEnzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1Whole brainType 1Higher body mass indexPositron emission tomography studyVT valuesSevere Alzheimer's diseaseEmission tomography studiesSteroid stress hormonesAge-associated increaseMean whole brainSignificant age-associated increaseRegional distribution volumesVisceral adiposityInsulin resistanceActive cortisolExcess cortisolInactive cortisoneMemory dysfunctionParietal lobe
2019
Measuring the effects of ketamine on mGluR5 using [18F]FPEB and PET
Holmes SE, Gallezot JD, Davis MT, DellaGioia N, Matuskey D, Nabulsi N, Krystal JH, Javitch JA, DeLorenzo C, Carson RE, Esterlis I. Measuring the effects of ketamine on mGluR5 using [18F]FPEB and PET. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2019, 40: 2254-2264. PMID: 31744389, PMCID: PMC7585925, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x19886316.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEffects of ketamineKetamine infusionGlutamate transmissionMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Ketamine-induced effectsKetamine-induced changesGlutamate receptor 5Promising treatment targetDrug challenge studiesTwo-tissue compartment modelMGluR5 radioligandBlood pressureMGluR5 availabilityBaseline scanOutcome measuresHealthy subjectsHeart ratePsychiatric disordersReceptor 5Modulatory effectsMGluR5Treatment targetsChallenge studiesArterial input functionChallenge paradigmNorepinephrine transporter availability in brown fat is reduced in obesity: a human PET study with [11C] MRB
Sanchez-Rangel E, Gallezot JD, Yeckel CW, Lam W, Belfort-DeAguiar R, Chen MK, Carson RE, Sherwin R, Hwang JJ. Norepinephrine transporter availability in brown fat is reduced in obesity: a human PET study with [11C] MRB. International Journal Of Obesity 2019, 44: 964-967. PMID: 31636373, PMCID: PMC7259982, DOI: 10.1038/s41366-019-0471-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBrown adipose tissueDetectable brown adipose tissueDistribution volume ratioMultilinear reference tissue model 2Norepinephrine transporterSympathetic innervationNorepinephrine transporter availabilityHuman brown adipose tissueDense sympathetic innervationPET-CT imagingReference tissue model 2Human PET studiesSupraclavicular regionCaucasian womenTransporter availabilityOccipital cortexObesityTherapeutic targetAdipose tissueBrown fatPET studiesWomenInnervationSelective ligandsEnergy-dissipating propertiesPET Imaging of Pancreatic Dopamine D2 and D3 Receptor Density with 11C-(+)-PHNO in Type 1 Diabetes
Bini J, Sanchez-Rangel E, Gallezot JD, Naganawa M, Nabulsi N, Lim K, Najafzadeh S, Shirali A, Ropchan J, Matuskey D, Huang Y, Herold K, Harris PE, Sherwin RS, Carson RE, Cline GW. PET Imaging of Pancreatic Dopamine D2 and D3 Receptor Density with 11C-(+)-PHNO in Type 1 Diabetes. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2019, 61: 570-576. PMID: 31601695, PMCID: PMC7198375, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.119.234013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsT1DM individualsHealthy controlsDopamine DOutcome measuresAcute C-peptide responseSUVR-1Type 1 diabetes mellitusPET/CT scanningDuration of diabetesMaximal glycemic potentiationC-peptide responseClinical outcome measuresInsulin secretory capacityRoutine clinical measuresD3 receptor densityΒ-cell functionC-peptide releaseQuantitative PET measuresΒ-cell massDynamic PET scansQuantitative outcome measuresAgonist PET radioligandDiabetes mellitusReceptor agonistInsulin antibodiesAssessment of a white matter reference region for 11C-UCB-J PET quantification
Rossano S, Toyonaga T, Finnema SJ, Naganawa M, Lu Y, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, De Bruyn S, Otoul C, Stockis A, Nicolas JM, Martin P, Mercier J, Huang Y, Maguire RP, Carson RE. Assessment of a white matter reference region for 11C-UCB-J PET quantification. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2019, 40: 1890-1901. PMID: 31570041, PMCID: PMC7446568, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x19879230.Peer-Reviewed Original Research